Socorro Islands
Expect deep blue water and strong currents as well as abundant marine life around the Socorro Islands.
© Shutterstock-Sandor Mejias B
Explore Colima
The Mexican state of Colima is located on the west coast and touches the Pacific Ocean with its 150 kilometers/93.2 miles of coastline. Its largest city is Manzanillo, a diving hotspot, and the islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, which are located approximately 700 kilometers/435 miles offshore and are also known for spectacular diving, are under the jurisdiction of Colima as well.
Diving in Manzanillo can accommodate all experience levels. Both sheltered and exposed areas of Manzanillo Bay keep dives interesting for beginners and advanced divers alike. Since most of Manzanillo’s dive sites are close to shore, liveaboards are not common. There are some remarkable shore dive sites, but most divers opt to dive with the daily boat tours that are operated by local dive shops.
Divers who travel from around the world to dive the Revillagigedo Archipelago usually have one objective in mind: to swim with megafauna. Diving in Socorro boasts intimate encounters with various marine mammals, including Humpback whales, hammerhead, whale, silky, oceanic whitetip, Galapagos, and tiger sharks, and dolphins. Giant Pacific manta rays are also a main attraction. These islands are remote, however, limiting dive access to these islands to only liveaboard dive boats.
Top Regions to Explore
Top Colima Dive Sites
San Luciano Wreck
Explore the San Luciano shipwreck at a shallow depth of 6 meters/19.7 feet in Manzanillo, teeming with vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life like parrotfish and moray eels. This site is perfect for beginner scuba divers due to its easy accessibility and fascinating underwater history.
Roca Elefante
Known for its unique underwater formations, Roca Elefante features two swim-through archways. Scuba divers, including beginners, can enjoy sightings of sea turtles and occasional whale sharks amidst healthy coral reefs.
Roca Partida
Situated in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, this advanced-level scuba diving site is a pinnacle where divers encounter large schools of tuna, mackerel, and various sharks like hammerheads. It's a protected area renowned for its biodiversity.
Roca O’Neal (Socorro Island):
Diving here offers advanced divers an exhilarating experience with abundant hammerhead sharks and other species. This site is ideal for scuba diving and is part of a marine park, ensuring ecological preservation.
The Boiler (San Benedicto Island)
A top spot for advanced scuba divers, The Boiler is famous for interactions with playful Giant Pacific manta rays. As part of a protected marine area, it offers a thrilling and eco-conscious diving adventure.
The best Months to dive in Colima
Colima, a coastal state in Mexico, offers year-round diving opportunities with relatively consistent conditions. Water temperatures typically range from 24°C/75°F in the cooler months to 30°C/86°F during the warmer seasons. This makes diving possible throughout the year, providing a comfortable experience for divers regardless of the season. Visibility in Colima's waters generally remains quite good, often ranging from 10 to 30 meters/32.8 to 98.4 feet. However, conditions can vary with seasonal changes. The rainy season, from June to October, may reduce visibility due to increased sediment and runoff. Additionally, this period can bring stronger currents and winds, which might affect diving conditions. Despite these changes, diving in Colima remains a viable option year-round, though divers may prefer the drier months from November to May for the best experience.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Colima
Colima, located along Mexico's Pacific Coast, offers vibrant marine life ideal for divers. The region is home to diverse reef fish like parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, commonly seen around the coral reefs near Manzanillo. These colorful species are residents year-round, providing a consistent spectacle for underwater enthusiasts. Seasonal highlights in Colima include sightings of various pelagic species. Between May and November, divers may encounter majestic manta rays and different shark species, such as whitetip reef sharks, particularly around the offshore sites. Additionally, from June to November, sea turtles, like the olive ridley, frequent the area for nesting, offering a unique opportunity to observe these creatures during their seasonal migrations.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
850 Sightings
J
117
F
125
M
140
A
102
M
118
J
35
J
10
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
86
D
116
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead
220 Sightings
J
36
F
41
M
51
A
28
M
9
J
13
J
7
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
31
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark
192 Sightings
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8
F
41
M
27
A
38
M
20
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
39
D
19
Tobias Friedrich
Bottlenose Dolphin
169 Sightings
J
22
F
25
M
36
A
15
M
14
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
21
D
28
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
155 Sightings
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1
F
18
M
37
A
39
M
20
J
7
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
27
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
119 Sightings
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18
F
2
M
12
A
9
M
16
J
5
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3
A
3
S
4
O
9
N
13
D
25
AdobeStock-wildestanimal
Common Dolphin
81 Sightings
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10
F
8
M
37
A
7
M
15
J
2
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2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
63 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
27
A
13
M
14
J
3
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
5
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
43 Sightings
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3
F
0
M
1
A
9
M
5
J
2
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
20
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
29 Sightings
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2
F
2
M
1
A
0
M
13
J
3
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
4
N
2
D
1
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst
Tiger Shark
25 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
23
D
0
